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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2015)
S moke S ignals JUNE 1, 2015 Let it ride Photo courtesy of Sam Tenney/Daily Journal of Commerce Tribal Council member Denise Harvey looks out at Tilikum Crossing during TriMet’s first ride of the MAX Orange Line in Portland on Friday, May 15. Tilikum Crossing is a new bridge that was built across the Willamette River as part of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project. Tilikum Crossing, the Tribe’s suggested name for the bridge that was chosen from four finalists, will open for public use on Sept. 12. Association starts registration The National Indian Education Association started registration for its 46th annual Convention and Trade Show on April 1. The four-day conven- tion is being held Oct. 14-17 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland and will be the first time in more than 30 years that the association has held its convention in the Rose City. “Portland is central to the Tribes living throughout the Northwest, ensuring equity for all of our students and NIEA members in the area,” said board President Melvin Monette. “The city is well-known for its long- standing and positive working relationship with Tribal entities.” This year’s theme is “Building Education Nations Through Tradition- al Foundations” and will emphasize innovation, creativity and culture throughout the convention. Teachers, school administrators, Tribal leaders and education faculty will be able to choose from more than 100 workshops focusing on advanced educational programs for Native students. Workshops will be coupled with a tradeshow where vendors will showcase Native art, career opportunities and educational technologies. For more information or to inquire about attending the convention as a member, sponsor or tradeshow exhibitor, visit www.niea.org on the Internet. n Ridgebear hired as casino’s director of marketing By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Shawna Ridgebear, 39, was hired by Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. as the new marking director. Her first day was Monday, April 27. Before joining Spirit Mountain, Ridgebear worked in casino mar- keting, business development and marketing with Circus Circus Reno/MGM Resorts International for more than 14 years. “Shawna’s greatest strengths are her creativity, drive and lead- ership,” said Stan Dillon, general manager of Spirit Mountain Ca- sino. “She thrives on challenges, particularly those that expand the company’s reach as well as increase the brand management.” Ridgebear discovered her pas- sion for numbers while studying accounting at Great Basin College in Elko, Nev., but she said she also realized that she wanted to grow her creative side. “Marketing within a casino envi- ronment proved to be a perfect fit,” she said. “She brings with her a passion for marketing, VIP services, events and community,” Dillon said. Ridgebear is an accomplished public speaker, having spoken at the National Indian Gaming Associa- tion, the National Casino Marketing Conference held at the University of Nevada’s Gaming Education De- partment and other notable speak- ing engagements on various gaming and public relations topics. One of her proudest moments, she said, was being recognized in Shawna Ridgebear a feature article in the 2012 Indian Country Today G2E article “Native Women in Gaming” in which her career and commitment to culture were spotlighted. Ridgebear is an enrolled member of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone and is also a member of the Edge Water Clan of the Dine Nation and Mescalero Apache Tribe of New Mexico. She started her career working with the Tribal gov- ernment for more than six years in Te-Moak Tribal administration and public relations. She also served as a board member of the Te-Moak Tribe’s Powwow Committee. Ridgebear is the mother of three sons – Dale, 20, Darion, 16, and Devon 14 – and is an avid beader. She frequently travels the powwow trail with her family, dancing in her traditional southern dress. Howev- er, she said, most of her powwow life is spent dancing in the jingle dress category. She is living in the Dallas area. n St. Michael’s offers brunch St. Michael’s Catholic Church offers an open house brunch every Sunday following Mass. The brunch is free to the community. Brunch begins at about 11:30 a.m. following the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Mass attendance is not required for brunch attendance. For more information, contact Janelle Justen at 503-550-0923. n 2015 Community Input meeting The Grand Ronde Tribe’s annual Community Input meeting will be held at the Tribal gym and at Youth Education on Wednesday, June 3. The meal will start at approximately 6:15 p.m. There will be open house tables on projects and programs, and door prizes will be awarded, including a Pendleton blanket. The Education Department will have tables in Youth Education available starting at 5 p.m. as part of the Summer Kick-Off meeting. • 6:15 p.m.: Welcome & blessing in the gym; dinner (hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans and potato salad). • 6:35 p.m.: Brief overview PowerPoint • 6:45 p.m.: Open house tables in the gym and in Youth Education building • 8 p.m. Drawing for a Pendleton blanket and smaller gifts. The annual Grand Ronde Community Input meeting is offered as an opportunity for members to provide comments and suggestions which will be used in helping guide Tribal programs and in preparing grant ap- plications, such as the Administration for Native Americans, the Indian Community Development Block Grant, Head Start and others. Those unable to attend can submit written comments and suggestions to Kim Rogers, Planning & Grants manager, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347. For additional information, contact Rogers at 503-879-2250. n 5 6 to 8 p.m. in the gym 1 - Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center 2 - Housing & CMI North Apartments Project 3 - Employment & Training programs/new facility 4 - Tribal Police Dept. & Station ICDBG Project 5 - Emergency Management 6 - Education Dept. Recreation Program 7 - Health & Wellness Dept. (Skookum Health Plan) 8 - Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention 9 - Children & Family Services – Foster Care 10 - Social Services (LIHEAP, etc.) 11 - Swimming pool planning 12 - Food Bank and Community Garden 13 - Natural Resources (Parks & Recreation) 14 - Public Transit 15 - Other topics table 5-7:30 p.m. Youth Education Building 16 - Youth Education 17 - Early Childhood Ed./Head Start 18 - Chinuk Language K-3 19 - Chinuk Language Lilu 20 - Higher Education 21 - Library
